Michael Bublé is famous notably for two things — his Christmas albums and the hilarious forlorn expressions he makes on his album covers. (OK, maybe the latter part is just something that Spotify brought to my attention — it might not be a universal thing). Either way, Bublé has basically been crowned the Canadian King of Commercial Christmas (if only king started with a c).

His 2011 album, “Christmas” continues to slay the holiday charts (although, let’s be honest, there’s only one holiday that the songs on these charts refer to, but that’s another issue altogether). Following the release of the album, he teamed up with NBC for very successful, celebrity-packed televised Christmas specials. His fifth special will air this Thursday.

Why is Bublé so popular around this time of the year? Like other famous Christmas crooners of the past (think Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra), Bublé’s voice falls into the jazzy male-vocalist sphere. His resonant, smooth voice and suave demeanor is reminiscent of a modern Sinatra, though that comparison is an honor I don’t have the clout to make. Perhaps his ability to evoke the same tone as Sinatra, without overtly trying to be a modern version, is what makes him accessible to a wide audience.

Bublé’s music has the capacity to bring warm and fuzzy feels to even the coldest of hearts, whether you like it or not. To some, he is a guilty pleasure, and to others, he is a modern time-traveler back to music of the past.

Bublé brings back old classics, staying true to their original melodies while utilizing background singers and throwing in a modern style. He puts globalized spins on songs by collaborating in mashups like “Mis Deseos/Feliz Navidad,” which he sings with Mexican pop star Thalia. He is the physical representation of a changing world; he is an Italian-Canadian dual citizen, he sings with international artists and thus makes himself accessible to English and non-English speaking audiences.

Although many people lump Bublé with the likes of Josh Groban and Michael Bolton, he is far more accessible to a larger, commercial audience (although, in my opinion, most of the audience is comprised of women). People of all ages and backgrounds listen to Bublé’s music, including non-Christians like me who love commercialized Christmas music. His style makes him approachable to older fans who listened to the likes of Sinatra and Dean Martin, but is recent enough to be enjoyed by younger crowds as well.

Plus, he has a face that, despite hilariously stoic facial expressions, looks great on albums, poster boards and television programs. Besides Celine Dion and Drake, Bublé is one of America’s favorite Canadians and is the kind of guy your grandmother secretly hopes you’ll bring home for Christmas.

That’s the thing about Bublé — he’s suave, but he’s also kind of corny. He’s a “cool young chap” to the elderly, he’s attractive to young and middle-aged women, and he’s a little bit lame to hipsters. But no matter what you think about him, you’ll find someone in every demographic singing (whether out loud or under their breath) along to his Christmas music.

Whether or not you are Christian, enjoy Christmas music, or even like Michael Bublé, it’s clear that he has changed the jazz and Christmas music game. I will continue to unabashedly blast his Christmas album, and my neighbors will continue to think I am lame. Bublé’s feel-good voice and majority major-key music is too happy for me to deny myself, much to the chagrin of my roommates.

Isha Damle is a junior television, radio, film major. She rarely knows the actual lyrics to songs, but is good at faking it until she makes it. Plus, her version is probably better. She can be reached at  idamle@syr.edu or on Twitter @ishadamle.

Published on December 8, 2015 at 9:44 pm